Thought this was interesting...however a little misleading! Example Roy Williams did not win a National Championship until his 17th season as a coach, but it was his 2nd season at North Carolina. Maybe it is just my take on the wording used!
Last time Illinois was in the Sweet Sixteen was in 2005. So if people are happy with that, I don't know what to say.
I think there’s a good chance that Texas may lose to either Houston or Miami if they get past Xavier and that’s if they get past Xavier. They have a tough road left to the final 4.If Terry gets Texas to the final four the job will be his
Ever been to a bar where some wiseacre has loaded the jukebox up with quarters and played MMMbop by Hanson ten times in a row just to annoy people?Yep, there is one dang big reason why, a 7ft 285lb Kofi. Thank goodness for that. Thats what has me concerned is can BU run a scheme without Kofi that works consistently . I haven't seen enough from BU that makes me as confident he can excel without him. Watching Millers teams look great without someone like Kofi. I am not saying BU can't do it, I think he can. I would be more confident in a few others and Miller is one of them. If KSU opened I bet he is gone but either way I hope BU improves and wins games.
There were plenty here that thought he couldn’t scheme WITH Kofi. Remember that? “There’s no movement.” “Everybody just stands on the perimeter.” “We’re one dimensional.” Etc. And, at times it wasn’t too far from the truth. (But if you look at the win loss column in that run…we didn’t too awful bad with it…like you said)Yep, there is one dang big reason why, a 7ft 285lb Kofi. Thank goodness for that. Thats what has me concerned is can BU run a scheme without Kofi that works consistently . I haven't seen enough from BU that makes me as confident he can excel without him. Watching Millers teams look great without someone like Kofi. I am not saying BU can't do it, I think he can. I would be more confident in a few others and Miller is one of them. If KSU opened I bet he is gone but either way I hope BU improves and wins games.
He just won 20 games without Kofi after losing a massive amount of production. It wasn’t a pretty year, but, what were people’s honest (not orange colored glasses optimistic) expectations for this past year. All this has also been accomplished despite what many thought was an apocalyptic assistant coaching line change.Yep, there is one dang big reason why, a 7ft 285lb Kofi. Thank goodness for that. Thats what has me concerned is can BU run a scheme without Kofi that works consistently . I haven't seen enough from BU that makes me as confident he can excel without him. Watching Millers teams look great without someone like Kofi. I am not saying BU can't do it, I think he can. I would be more confident in a few others and Miller is one of them. If KSU opened I bet he is gone but either way I hope BU improves and wins games.
Yeah, it's wrong. Calipari became coach at UK in 2009 and won a natty in 2012. Wright took over at Villanova in 2001 and won a natty in 2016. Probably means total time coaching, but the tweet specifically says # of years at program before winning.Thought this was interesting...however a little misleading! Example Roy Williams did not win a National Championship until his 17th season as a coach, but it was his 2nd season at North Carolina. Maybe it is just my take on the wording used!
No disagreement here. This team was a total mess and the fact that it was talented enough to stumble into the tourney doesn’t really mitigate it.I agree - I do not have negativity about BU - he brought us back and won two big ten titles. I do, however, have concerns about the program. When virtually everyone involved with the program says much of the team stopped listening to him, stopped running called plays, basically stopped accepting coaching, I have concerns. Things I saw this season reminded me of things I saw the last year of the Weber era, and that scares me. Something was obviously very wrong this year, and the question is whether it can be fixed by Underwood. I genuinely hope it can be, but I honestly don't have an informed answer to that question. It seems we will see what Josh Whitman's answer to that question is in the coming days.
We have to stop with banging this same old drum over and over again. I brought this stat up to multiple friend groups who root for other teams and it’s constantly picked apart and almost ridiculed. Frequent responses include- how many 2nd weekends, or how much success without Kofi? Listen, BU is exactly what illinois needed to bring us out of the deep dark abyss of Groce/Weber and I’ll always respect him for that. But with recent developments of infidelity on both sides, this relationship might have run its course.There is more to coaching than just the tournament. Turned around a program in the dustbin and has most wins in Big10 over last 4 years.
sounds similar as a younger Harry Caray with the Cardinals and owners daughter/Daughter in lawPretty sure it was with the daughter, not the wife.
Rumor, not necessarily fact.
See post #806We have to stop with banging this same old drum over and over again. I brought this stat up to multiple friend groups who root for other teams and it’s constantly picked apart and almost ridiculed. Frequent responses include- how many 2nd weekends, or how much success without Kofi? Listen, BU is exactly what illinois needed to bring us out of the deep dark abyss of Groce/Weber and I’ll always respect him for that. But with recent developments of infidelity on both sides, this relationship might have run its course.
I like to think of it this way-
Do you ever look back at a romantic relationship in your past and think about all the magical times you had with this significant other? After a few intoxicating moments you’re quickly pulled back to the realities of world. And you remember the exact reason why this past relationship came to a screeching halt. Reading all the tea leaves, this may be the exact crossroads we’re at with our program.
We have JW, the fanbase, the facilities, and $$$. Let’s shoot for the moon this off-season. Illini nation has been tortured long enough in March
I don’t know if anyone appreciates this enough, but after this absolute paradoxical season, this objectively positive post goes into Gritty’s HOF.Yeah I honestly struggle to understand some of the negativity around BU, even as some who believes in and supports the highest of expectations for Illinois Basketball.
Maybe it’s a differential in terms of how much people care about the Big Ten and Big Ten titles?
Like, we gotta break our second weekend drought, for sure, but BU’s got one (and actually two) Big Ten titles in the bag plus a win of the deepest most competitive BTT maybe ever. That bought an ocean of goodwill and confidence in his ability to win big in my book.
If all you can see is Loyola I don’t think you’re viewing the whole picture, jmho.
I’m still supportive of Underwood and really appreciate how he’s brought Illinois Basketball back. I’m hoping that if BU stays, he’ll be able to regroup and maintain his relationships with Whitman and his players so they can keep working together to win.I agree - I do not have negativity about BU - he brought us back and won two big ten titles. I do, however, have concerns about the program. When virtually everyone involved with the program says much of the team stopped listening to him, stopped running called plays, basically stopped accepting coaching, I have concerns. Things I saw this season reminded me of things I saw the last year of the Weber era, and that scares me. Something was obviously very wrong this year, and the question is whether it can be fixed by Underwood. I genuinely hope it can be, but I honestly don't have an informed answer to that question. It seems we will see what Josh Whitman's answer to that question is in the coming days.
My standards have always been the same in football and basketball. Beat our rivals and make them angry and you have my heart.I don’t know if anyone appreciates this enough, but after this absolute paradoxical season, this objectively positive post goes into Gritty’s HOF.
Perspective logic ftw
Yeah, I really thought last year BU should have won B10 Coach of the Year considering he had to replace his whole coaching staff and deal with multiple injuries/illnesses, and still was able to grab a championship.No disagreement here. This team was a total mess and the fact that it was talented enough to stumble into the tourney doesn’t really mitigate it.
College basketball is very different now and everything is kind of a reshuffle from year to year no matter how good or bad you do.
So it’s a new day next year. Expectations are and should be high. Goodwill doesn’t last forever, but it should last a year.
John Wooden 17 years, 1947 -1964. Includes 2 years at Indiana State.Thought this was interesting...however a little misleading! Example Roy Williams did not win a National Championship until his 17th season as a coach, but it was his 2nd season at North Carolina. Maybe it is just my take on the wording used!
Which rivals have we been beating? If you count Michigan and Wisconsin, yes. Iowa and Northwestern previously, but not so much this year. Not Indiana, not Purdue, not Mizzou.My standards have always been the same in football and basketball. Beat our rivals and make them angry and you have my heart.
Xavier is a basketball school and has been a good program overall for this entire century. Xavier, I would contend, is a better job right now than Oklahoma St. Your blinders are on. You seem to think that it is a good idea for our program to hire a coach who could bolt for another job at a more elite program. We want to find someone who won't do that but at the same time is an up and comer and a rising head coach. K. State found one but I guarantee you, Jerome Tang, will leave, just like Micah Shrewsberry leftBut Xavier is a destination job? Hey I get the stance that come on Xavier gave you a chance after you were thrown on the scrap heap, but let's also not ignore the fact that Xavier knows dang good and well they were able to get a top notch coach on the cheap too, and is currently reaping the benefit.
At the end of the day it's a business. A business with lots of money at stake.
Where in Illinois is SM's wife from? thought I saw that posted a few days ago.Xavier is a basketball school and has been a good program overall for this entire century. Xavier, I would contend, is a better job right now than Oklahoma St. Your blinders are on. You seem to think that it is a good idea for our program to hire a coach who could bolt for another job at a more elite program. We want to find someone who won't do that but at the same time is an up and comer and a rising head coach. K. State found one but I guarantee you, Jerome Tang, will leave, just like Micah Shrewsberry left
Now do final 4sThought this was interesting...however a little misleading! Example Roy Williams did not win a National Championship until his 17th season as a coach, but it was his 2nd season at North Carolina. Maybe it is just my take on the wording used!
I think Underwood has earned the privilege of us overlooking his first two seasons, which were part of a successful full rebuild of the program. So let's take the teams that are most frequently cited as our biggest rivals. Since the 2019-2020 season (the first post-rebuild season) we are:Which rivals have we been beating? If you count Michigan and Wisconsin, yes. Iowa and Northwestern previously, but not so much this year. Not Indiana, not Purdue, not Mizzou.
Will never understand this mentality. I absolutely want a coach that is winning and creating so much success that UK, KU, Duke, NC wants this person.You seem to think that it is a good idea for our program to hire a coach who could bolt for another job at a more elite program.
I don't trust Sean Miller to stay at Illinois for 10-15 yrs. It would be great if that was to be the case but in reality, that would never happen